ROD Stewart. Elton John. Rory McIlroy. Michael McIntyre. Andrew Lloyd Webber. Nico Rosberg. Mike Tyson. Saudi royalty. And, of course, eleventy Premier League footballers.
Ferrari LaFerrari. McLaren P1. Porsche 918 Spyder. Bugatti Chiron. Bugatti Veyron (x3). Lamborghini Aventador (x3). Ferrari 488 (x4). McLaren SLR. Mercedes SLS Gullwing. Ferrari 512 M.
Welcome to the world of Britain’s top supercar dealer Tom Hartley.
His contacts book reads like a Who’s Who of the rich and famous and all of those glorious cars — some of the rarest on the planet — currently sit gleaming in his Derbyshire showroom.
Yep, he’s got the Holy Trinity. All in one place.
Tom, 57, has traded more than £5billion worth of motors over the years — including a record £250million last year.
Lamborghini has chopped the roof off its Huracan supercar and given the howling V10 a performance upgrade for the 201mph Huracan Performante SpyderToday is another special day as he opens a £10million, three-floor car gallery complete with see-through glass floors, viewing balcony, turntable and giant scissor lift.
It’s all part of the seduction — sorry, I meant service — from the self-titled “deal-maker” who already has a guest house, private cinema, spa room and full-time chef for VVIP clients.
As well as a “car stage” in the middle of a lake.
Tom said: “We have created a car-buying experience like no other. Coming to our 40-acre estate is not like visiting a showroom in the city centre.
It’s very private. Our clients regularly fly in by helicopter and they love to see their cars on the lake to get the full reflection.”
So is Tom worried Brexit will put a dent in the family empire he runs with son Carl?
Not at all.Tom said: “It is what it is. Monday will still be Monday, Friday will still be Friday and we’ll still be buying and selling cars.
“At a time when everyone is stopping and getting smaller, we’re getting bigger. There is no other private, family-run business with the selection of cars we have in the UK.”
Drivable Bugatti Chiron built from a million pieces of Lego Technic and 2,304 electric toy motorsEven as we’re chatting Tom is doing deals.
He buys a Ferrari Enzo for £1.9million by text — and then immediately sells it for £2million.
Followed by a Ferrari 575 Superamerica — bought for £350,000, sold for £400,000. That’s £150,000 profit in no time at all.
Tom said: “We sold a Ferrari 250 SWB California for £10million in 2015 and we’ve just bought it back for £12m.
MOST READ IN MOTORS
"We’re asking £13m for it but I’ll take a profit.”
Other lush motors dotted around Tom’s place include a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Lamborghini Huracan, Porsche Carrera GT, McLaren Can-Am, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Ferrari Testarossa, Jaguar Project 7... and, er, a VW Golf diesel.
Tom said: “That’s my runaround. It’s a great car and it helps keep me grounded and appreciate all these supercars when I drive them.”
TOP JOBS
BENTLEY is looking for 51 apprentices at Crewe, starting this autumn.
Apply at bentleycareers.com.
ROLLS-ROYCE wants 31 apprentices at Goodwood, West Sussex.
Apply at rolls-roycemotorcars.com/careers.
AUTO PARTS
- JOHN Haynes, founder of Haynes DIY car manuals, has died aged 80.
He was a hero to every car enthusiast and a lovely man. RIP - I’VE been bombarded with naff PR guff for Valentine’s Day.
But this Carwow poll gave me a little sick burp: More than half of over 55s admit to having sex in their cars.
Grandad? - THE latest congestion data makes grim reading.
Drivers lost an average of 178 HOURS stuck in traffic last year, the equivalent of watching your footie team play 118 games and lose each one 1-0.
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